Rob is doing great. I haven’t posted, because we have been really busy on Rob’s rehabilitation plan. Rob is slowly but steadily regaining his strength. It’s amazing to see all his improvements by the day. I am shocked by his body’s ability to heal itself – mother-nature is truly amazing in life-giving and nurturing. Here are pictures of us making Speculaas cookies for the very good nurses at Heliomare.
We are still enjoying every small moment together — I hope that lasts forever. We have had a lot of talks about everything that has happened, and are processing it all. The one thing we are both absolutely sure of, is that this experience has made us both richer/stronger, both individually and together. Hence the title to this positing by Rob’s choosing – Rob 2.0.
For any that may not know what that means, it’s our parody of the internet hype “The term Web 2.0 is commonly associated with web applications which facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design and collaboration on the World Wide Web”.
For us, the meaning is that Rob has in many ways come back stronger than he was before. Rob definitely has his challenges, but he has a new view on things, that is beautiful in it’s purity of seeing things as they are, but also going after everything he can get out of this life. I think this picture of Rob and Jansen says it all.
We are still struggling with Rob’s rehabilitation plans (or lack thereof). We have a big meeting on 3 December, and we are confident that Heliomare will be putting a good plan in place, and that finally Rob can get all the therapy that he needs. Needless to say, we also have put in place a full backup plan, just in case we have divergent ways of looking at his therapy. We are hopeful, but also realistic, and hope for the best on Thursday.
In the process of putting plans in place we have sorted out many of the bigger long-term plans we needed to address. Although it has been a bit more rushed, these are things we needed to sort out anyway. My head is spinning with all that we need to do, but I feel very confident that we will make everything work, and that the extra time needed in the past will be less, once we have his care in place. We are lining up the right kind of people, with the right kind of atitude and mentality. It will be a struggle on the short-term, but I think we are both ready, willing, and able!
To let all of you know our family in Holland is also in the middle of helath problems with Rob’s parents Ger and Tonny. I think Ger will be okay (he won’t tell us otherwise either way), but Tonny is having some very concerning problems with mini-strokes / TIA’s. We hope you keep all of us in your thoughts.
We are looking forward to some nice visits with Rob’s sister Anne and husband Mick and then later in the month by my borther Mike and partner Linda. Next week is Grandma Bender’s 97th birthday. This was our card to our very special lady in Chicago.
Rob received a new camera last week, so that we can start to see the world through Rob’s eyes. These views through the lens may be small things, but to us, they are very important. That is Rob taking his first picture of me. 
Before I gave Rob the camera, I did a test and took a picture of Jansen that I think is kind of funny.
Thanks for sharing it all with us, and being such great support.
I’m sending all good thoughts that things go well tomorrow. Hope our long talk on Sunday was helpful–you know that dad and I are behind you 150% (no, make that 200%). Stay strong, both of you!
All our love,
Mom
P.S. Love the new photos!
It’s great to hear how you are both coping & re-adjusting to this journey of yours. We are full of admiration and love for you both. You’re both wonderful individuals . . .but together your dynamite!!!!
‘When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’ have fun with the new camera Rob .
p.s How about a doggie cam for Jansen
pps Waiting to hear about version 2.1
Love you loads
claire & simon xxx
YEAH! way to go and keep up the good work! Pretty soon, there might be a Rob 3.0
Indeed we were fond of rob1.0. We’re really looking foreward to meeting Rob 2.0, although the flu came between that. We managed to get skype into the air, so let’s have some fun with that. Great admiration for Ellyn, and the way she also copes with this transformation proces… Love Joost & Dorette
Here’s to interoperability and collaberation! Good luck on Thursday.
love, Caro
Not that 1.0 was boring or anything …
Hi dear friends, every time I read your posting, I’m overwhelmed (is that a right word in english???) to see how competent you both are dealing with everything that you find on your path, on the practical side as well as on the spiritual side of life. So much love and care for each other, inner growth, getting wiser…makes me philosophising: do we really need to get that deep into mud in life, to grow lotusses?
Isn’t there a less painful way? Anyway, its so good to read you guys keep up the good spirits, at least most of the time, and I know its hard, having to deal with health care institutes etc. but you will get there!!! thanks for sharing all this stories and the beatiful pictures, we think of you and your family everey day, love you!
Tanja
ps. seems to me that you’re like the great Hannibal, Carthago’s general, 2200 years ago, travelling through the Pyrenean and Alpen mountains with his army and elephants: “We will find a way, or I will make one”. You will find a good health care plan for Rob, or make one yourselves! Good luck!
Hey, nose looks great without the tube!
2.0 is something I’d love hearing more about. I can only make guesses but what Ell reports sounds beautiful. Once again, as Buddhist like to point out, lotuses grow out of the mud. All the muck of living in the ICU, dealing w/ med systems, dealing w/ other issues that got you there, and at the same time choosing hope, love, strength, humor, beauty … choosing over & over again, as it’s a long slog. That’s marvelous.
As I’m in Bangkok and catching up on things here, my mind easily compares one sort of much with the much of Thai politics and a society stuck in great inequalities with increasing potential for significant violence. It’s very sad and nobody sees a clear (and realistic) way out for the near term. Another long slog. Friends here must do what you two have done and keep choosing truth, honesty, love, commitment, humor, etc.
Pretty mucky in the US of A, too, so I’ll take what inspiration I can from you guys and try to survive.
Much love & respect.